Gas-Filled Windows

Related To:

No longer just two layers of glass in a frame, high-performance triple-paned gas-filled windows can help make homes more energy efficient and comfortable.

Filling the space between the glass panes with gases such as krypton or argon minimizes the convection currents within the space. That reduces the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside of the house.

How does the gas filling in these windows provide all of these benefits?

U-factors measure the rate of heat lost or gained. The lower the u-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulation value. Gas-filled windows have significantly lower u-factors, thereby reducing energy costs.

They also make the home more comfortable by reducing the amount of solar radiation coming through the glass in hot climates, while maintaining a higher interior temperature during winter. The higher temperature of the interior glass surface also reduces frost and condensation.

Most multi-paned windows are filled with air or flushed with dry nitrogen prior to sealing. This creates a high level of conduction within the panes and a low level of insulation, which makes them lose valuable heat in cold climates and generate unwanted heat in warm weather.